Wet Nursing and Human Milk Sharing: Reviving Sustainable Systems to Prioritise Breastfeeding

The 2025 call of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is to prioritise breastfeeding through creating sustainable support systems. This is based on the strong foundations of breastfeeding and the unique properties of human milk to nourish, protect and provide optimal physical, emotional and cognitive growth for the infant. Empowering women to establish and maintain lactation is critical for the short- and long-term health of mothers and infants; reducing infant and maternal morbidity; reducing healthcare costs; and building healthy societies. Studies have demonstrated this can be done effectively and sustainably using peer educators to provide support, knowledge and self-efficacy to establish and maintain breastfeeding. However, rates of breastfeeding remain far below global targets. Safe and sustainable support options are needed for mothers who struggle with an insufficient milk supply, despite lactation support. These options include wet nursing and safe human milk sharing. When these are not possible/feasible, donor milk from human milk banks should be considered. Creating support systems requires investing in financial and human resources to protect, promote and support breastfeeding through revisiting these sustainable approaches.